Martín Maldonado will join Leones del Escogido of the LIDOM for the upcoming season, the club announced early Tuesday morning.
A 14-year veteran, Maldonado’s bat has never been a significant contributor, tallying a career .203 batting average in 807 games for six teams. He most recently appeared in MLB games for the White Sox in 2024, hitting .119 before being released.
However, Maldonado is best known for his defense and leadership, traits lauded by coaches and players alike.
“Maldy is a guy that’s extremely important to this team and to this clubhouse,” Former Astros teammate Jose Abreu said to Chris Baldwin of PaperCity. “He’s a guy that I think in baseball, he doesn’t get all the credit that he deserves.”
He was a significant contributor to the beginning of the Astros’ dynasty, batting ninth in the club’s World Series-clinching game six in 2022.
Maldonado has previously appeared in the Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente for the Indios de Mayagüez. This will be the 37-year-old’s first stint in LIDOM.
Both behind the plate and as a revered member of the clubhouse, Maldonado will look to help Leones del Escogido (26-24 a year ago) improve on and off the field.
Photo Credit: Martín Maldonado #15 of the Chicago White Sox hits a single against the St. Louis Cardinals in the fifth inning at Busch Stadium on May 3, 2024 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Joe Puetz/Getty Images)
